Working memory training may help people pay attention day to day

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   Children aged 5 to 17 and adults aged 20 to 70 took part, some with ADHD. Others had memory problems linked to cancer, a stroke, a brain injury, being born very small, or social and emotional difficulties.

2. 02

   What they did

   The training groups used a computer program that changes its difficulty to fit each user, with a helper and a coach. It has 20 or more sessions over about 5 weeks, of 10 to 45 minutes each. The other groups did an easier version that did not change, had a wait before starting, or did nothing extra.

3. 03

   What happened

   People who did the training had less trouble paying attention in daily life than the other groups, by a moderate amount. Two to four months later the gap was smaller, but still there. Memory for places, words and numbers also improved, but the paper's figures for places don't match. The paper gives two different times for the later check, and the studies were not formally checked for bias.

What the review found

1. Helped

   In 11 studies, working memory training helped people focus more than others.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 11 studies · vs an easier version, a wait before starting, or nothing extra · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

2. Helped

   In 7 studies, people still focused more two to four months later than others.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 7 studies · vs an easier version, a wait before starting, or nothing extra · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source